1.  Be seated comfortably before you start reading.

2.  Put reading material on a clipboard or reading stand.

3.  Adjust your lighting while keeping in mind how close you will be to the reading material.

4.  Put on your reading glasses (microscope). Touch your nose with the reading material and then slowly move the material away until the letters on the page come into focus. The stronger the power of your reading glasses, the closer you will have to hold your reading material.

5.   Readjust your lighting to ensure that no shadows are on the material.

6. Remember to view through the center of the lens. Remind yourself to move your chin down toward your chest if you are accustomed to looking through a bifocal.

7. While reading, hold your head and eye still, and move the clipboard left to right in front of your eye. The material must be parallel to the lenses in your glasses.

8.  If you are using reading glasses with 3X power or more, it is not possible to use two eyes when reading. Because of the close reading distance required of these lenses, double vision occurs if two eyes are used. Your glasses have been made so that you use your eye with the best vision for reading. You either ignore the other eye or you will need to use an eye patch when reading. The eye patch will not make the vision in either eye better or worse.

9. Use plenty of short practice sessions: 5 minutes or less, three or four times a day in the beginning. Increase your reading time when you experience less eye strain and when you can read more comfortably.

10. Remember that some items will be easier to read than others. Ease of reading depends on print size, color, spacing, style, contrast, and paper quality.

11. Clean reading glasses regularly with a clean, damp, lint-free cloth. Keep them in their case when not in use.

Note: Do not walk with these glasses on. They are only for reading.

The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the LowVision.com Site.